按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
caught her long silvery…white veil； those who saw it believed it to be
a swan； spreading out its wings。 On many a night； too； when the
fishermen； with their torches； were out at sea； she heard them
relate so many good things about the doings of the young prince；
that she was glad she had saved his life when he had been tossed about
half…dead on the waves。 And she remembered that his head had rested on
her bosom； and how heartily she had kissed him； but he knew nothing of
all this； and could not even dream of her。 She grew more and more fond
of human beings； and wished more and more to be able to wander about
with those whose world seemed to be so much larger than her own。
They could fly over the sea in ships； and mount the high hills which
were far above the clouds； and the lands they possessed； their woods
and their fields； stretched far away beyond the reach of her sight。
There was so much that she wished to know； and her sisters were unable
to answer all her questions。 Then she applied to her old
grandmother； who knew all about the upper world； which she very
rightly called the lands above the sea。
〃If human beings are not drowned；〃 asked the little mermaid；
〃can they live forever？ do they never die as we do here in the sea？〃
〃Yes；〃 replied the old lady； 〃they must also die； and their term
of life is even shorter than ours。 We sometimes live to three
hundred years； but when we cease to exist here we only become the foam
on the surface of the water； and we have not even a grave down here of
those we love。 We have not immortal souls； we shall never live
again； but； like the green sea…weed； when once it has been cut off； we
can never flourish more。 Human beings； on the contrary； have a soul
which lives forever； lives after the body has been turned to dust。
It rises up through the clear； pure air beyond the glittering stars。
As we rise out of the water； and behold all the land of the earth；
so do they rise to unknown and glorious regions which we shall never
see。〃
〃Why have not we an immortal soul？〃 asked the little mermaid
mournfully； 〃I would give gladly all the hundreds of years that I have
to live； to be a human being only for one day； and to have the hope of
knowing the happiness of that glorious world above the stars。〃
〃You must not think of that；〃 said the old woman； 〃we feel
ourselves to be much happier and much better off than human beings。〃
〃So I shall die；〃 said the little mermaid； 〃and as the foam of the
sea I shall be driven about never again to hear the music of the
waves； or to see the pretty flowers nor the red sun。 Is there anything
I can do to win an immortal soul？〃
〃No；〃 said the old woman； 〃unless a man were to love you so much
that you were more to him than his father or mother； and if all his
thoughts and all his love were fixed upon you； and the priest placed
his right hand in yours； and he promised to be true to you here and
hereafter； then his soul would glide into your body and you would
obtain a share in the future happiness of mankind。 He would give a
soul to you and retain his own as well； but this can never happen。
Your fish's tail； which amongst us is considered so beautiful； is
thought on earth to be quite ugly； they do not know any better； and
they think it necessary to have two stout props； which they call legs；
in order to be handsome。〃
Then the little mermaid sighed； and looked sorrowfully at her
fish's tail。 〃Let us be happy；〃 said the old lady； 〃and dart and
spring about during the three hundred years that we have to live；
which is really quite long enough； after that we can rest ourselves
all the better。 This evening we are going to have a court ball。〃
It is one of those splendid sights which we can never see on
earth。 The walls and the ceiling of the large ball…room were of thick；
but transparent crystal。 May hundreds of colossal shells； some of a
deep red； others of a grass green； stood on each side in rows； with
blue fire in them； which lighted up the whole saloon； and shone
through the walls； so that the sea was also illuminated。 Innumerable
fishes； great and small； swam past the crystal walls； on some of
them the scales glowed with a purple brilliancy； and on others they
shone like silver and gold。 Through the halls flowed a broad stream；
and in it danced the mermen and the mermaids to the music of their own
sweet singing。 No one on earth has such a lovely voice as theirs。
The little mermaid sang more sweetly than them all。 The whole court
applauded her with hands and tails； and for a moment her heart felt
quite gay； for she knew she had the loveliest voice of any on earth or
in the sea。 But she soon thought again of the world above her； for she
could not forget the charming prince； nor her sorrow that she had
not an immortal soul like his； therefore she crept away silently out
of her father's palace； and while everything within was gladness and
song； she sat in her own little garden sorrowful and alone。 Then she
heard the bugle sounding through the water； and thought… 〃He is
certainly sailing above； he on whom my wishes depend； and in whose
hands I should like to place the happiness of my life。 I will
venture all for him； and to win an immortal soul； while my sisters are
dancing in my father's palace； I will go to the sea witch； of whom I
have always been so much afraid； but she can give me counsel and
help。〃
And then the little mermaid went out from her garden； and took the
road to the foaming whirlpools； behind which the sorceress lived。
She had never been that way before： neither flowers nor grass grew
there； nothing but bare； gray； sandy ground stretched out to the
whirlpool； where the water； like foaming mill…wheels； whirled round
everything that it seized； and cast it into the fathomless deep。
Through the midst of these crushing whirlpools the little mermaid
was obliged to pass； to reach the dominions of the sea witch； and also
for a long distance the only road lay right across a quantity of warm；
bubbling mire； called by the witch her turfmoor。 Beyond this stood her
house； in the centre of a strange forest； in which all the trees and
flowers were polypi； half animals and half plants； they looked like
serpents with a hundred heads growing out of the ground。 The
branches were long slimy arms； with fingers like flexible worms；
moving limb after limb from the root to the top。 All that could be
reached in the sea they seized upon； and held fast； so that it never
escaped from their clutches。 The little mermaid was so alarmed at what
she saw； that she stood still； and her heart beat with fear； and she
was very nearly turning back； but she thought of the prince； and of
the human soul for which she longed； and her courage returned。 She
fastened her long flowing hair round her head； so that the polypi
might not seize hold of it。 She laid her hands together across her
bosom； and then she darted forward as a fish shoots through the water；
between the supple arms and fingers of the ugly polypi； which were
stretched out on each side of her。 She saw